Online only letters to the editor

A subject to bereave

I couldn't help but be floored by the absurdity of Allies for Marriage and Children executive director Cheryl Haskins' belief that the lawsuit filed by three gay city-workers in Bellevue is an attack on traditional marriage. ["3 gay workers sue Bellevue, claim bias," Times, Local News, April 18].

Where is the attack? It certainly isn't against heterosexual couples. Giving same-sex couples the equal right and recognition to legally marry their partner is called equality.

Haskins apparently lives in the land of the free. Free to judge, free to persecute, free to deny equality to those who do not love the same way she does.

Meanwhile, my partner and I are forced to live constantly battling the idea that our sexuality makes us inferior to the rest of society. It takes bravery to stand up in the face of society and say "I am a person who deserves the right to love who I love and be proud of it."

I am not saying it is realistic to think we will ever live in a world without hate, but gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered citizens deserve the same rights of equality that everyone else does.

In all fairness to equality, though, if people like Cheryl Haskins just can't handle allowing same-sex couples to have equal marital rights, I would support taking all of those rights away from heterosexual couples. Fair is fair, right?

-- Joshua Wallace, Bellevue

Cheryl Haskins , executive director of Allies for Marriage and Children, says the lawsuit brought by Bellevue city employees is " just a new group that has picked up this fight [referring to "undermining traditional marriage"] -- same issue, new attack."

I would love to be present the day that her own child turns to her and says "Mom, I'm gay," and to hear Ms. Haskins explain to her child that he/she is not as good as his/her mother, and therefore does not deserve the same rights.

I am sorry to say, Ms. Haskins, it is people such as yourself whose ignorance and intolerance is the threat to traditional marriage, not the loving, nurturing relationships of same-sex couples and families asking for respect and the same human rights and dignities afforded you.

-- Alan Olson, Seattle

"Bomb Iran" comment bombed

Presidential candidate John McCain's "Bomb Iran" comment was absolutely disgusting and McCain needs to make a statement of apology regarding his poor taste. ["McCain: Critics of Iran joke should 'get a life,'." News, April 20].

I seriously doubt that McCain would tolerate a public statement from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about bombing Arizona.

Despite McCain's attempts to court the evangelical right, he has yet to live the mantras "do onto others" or "love thy neighbor."

-- Jonathan Ursin, Seattle

Golden rule, good lesson

The massacre at Virginia Tech should serve as an object lesson for students everywhere, especially those in elementary, middle or high school. Classmates of Cho Seung Hui recalled that he was mercilessly teased and picked on in school.

The Columbine gunmen were also teased and picked on.

Here's a novel idea for students, and all of us, for that matter: When you see someone who seems "different," try reaching out to them. Or at least be civil.

While teasing is considered "normal" for younger kids, it doesn't make it right. Constant torment can result in deadly outbursts like these. Obviously, there were other issues involved that should have been recognized and dealt with early on, but teasing and torment were major factors.

Hazing on or near college campuses that results in injury and/or severe emotional distress is unacceptable. Parents, teachers, professors, administrators and others have a responsibility to let the perpetrators know it will not be tolerated. Severe hazing should result in criminal punishment.

Those who think such behavior is "harmless" should ask themselves a simple question: 'Would I want to be treated like that'?

A simple, common-sense application of the Golden Rule would help prevent many problems in life.

-- Fred Hutchins, Lynnwood

Disarming our protectors?

It seems after every tragedy, all of the anti-gun people come out in force saying if we ban guns, the problem of gun violence will be solved.

What they fail to realize is that gun bans and strict gun-control laws don't work. The law-abiding gun owners are the ones getting penalized. The criminals pay no more attention to these laws than they do any others.

The places with the strictest gun laws, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, New York and California, have high crime rates. It's proportional.

-- Sara Kline, Bothell

New events not key to new arena

The Times repeatedly justifies a publicly-subsidized arena for the Sonics by mentioning the other events such an arena could accommodate. [See "Don't bench Sonics: take it to a vote," Opinion, April 6].

What new events could a new arena bring to the area? Besides the remote prospect of an National Hockey League team, I can't think of any. KeyArena already attracts plenty of concerts and figure-skating exhibitions. The Final Four won't come to a new arena -- the NCAA holds those exclusively in domed stadiums (one of which we once had in Seattle) -- and a one-time event like a national political convention does not justify a $300.million public investment.

Spin it as you will, but this new arena is only about the Sonics.

KeyArena is not a physically outdated facility; it is merely outdated because the NBA's economic model has, over the past decade, become even more dependent on public subsidies to make ends meet. Also, while the 1995 rebuild of KeyArena increased the Sonics' cash flow, it merely increased the team's price when former owner Barry Ackerly sold out in 2001.

The new owners are in essentially the same position that Ackerly was in before the 1995 rebuild, but why should taxpayers once again have to foot the bill to provide a financial windfall to a team owner?

-- Marko Velikonja, Arlington